Where to Buy a Loupe

[jan can]

The diamond I''ve ordered is laser inscribed. I''d like to be able to read it after those times I take it to a jewellers to be cleaned, etc. I''ve looked on ebay for a 20X loupe. How much should I be expecting to pay for this? The prices seem low but perhaps the cost for a non-professional loupe shouldn''t be much. Any help.

I''m in Canada but am often in Las Vegas. That would be the other option of dropping into a store there.

 

[yssie]

How big is your diamond? A 10x is enough to see inscriptions on larger diamonds, or those w/ thicker girdles



try here:
http://www.datlas.com/tools.htm

 

[sdevante]

If you''d bought the diamond from GoodOldGold, it would have included a loupe.

Hopefully someone comes along with something more productive than this.

 

[kenny]

click

Click

Click

 

[PuddinheadMcGee]

Would a 10X be enough magnification to show the inscription on a stone just under .5?

 

[serenitydiamonds]

No, the stone inscription would need a microscope.

--Joshua

 

[jan can]

The diamond is 1.1. I was told a 20x was needed.

 

[oldminer]

As someone has already told you, we do offer 10x, 20x and 30x inexpensive yet quality loupes on the datlas.com site. Most inscriptions can be read with 20x although this week I had one from one of the Pricescope vendors that needed every bit of 30x to read. This inscription was unusually tiny as the girdle was "thin".

You can find many loupes on Amazon or Ebay, too. It up to you, of course.

 

[kenny]

I can read my inscriptions with my 10x loupe.
It takes a while to get the light just right though, and it is a Harald Schneider loupe so I believe the better optics help.

Also technique is a factor.
I used to teach people how to use microscopes at work to reduce eye strain and see better.

15x binoculars are priced from $20 to $3000.
There is a legitimate reason one costs more, same thing with loupes.

Magnification and resolution are two very different things.

 

[jan can]

Seems I can get an 30x loupe on ebay for ~$10 delivered. I think I''ll order one of these and if it does the job of reading the inscription about once per year, I''d be happy. It''s not much of a loss if it doesn''t work at which point I''ll invest in a better quality one.

If I were going to be travelling to interesting locations with the hope of buying jewellery, I''d invest in a better quality loupe. Perhaps that day will happen sometime.

How many people have their own loupe?

 

[tonyc2387]

I recently got this set from amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001C9LG60

Now... I totally expected to get what I paid for (which is to say, not much) but I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to pick out the inscription on my .836ct using the 30x, though with some difficulty... which could probably be explained by my general inexperience, and poor technique, with loupes. But... for $6, I''m definitely happy with the set.